Now Ukraine is preparing to strike back – and perhaps with its own hover bombs. A recent video shot by the Ukrainian Air Force shows an Air Force Su-24 bomber carrying a prototype of a flying munition under its wing.
The Ukrainians are not satisfied with American-made JDAM-ER bombs and French-made Hammer bombs, but clearly intend to arm their fighters with locally produced bombs. Air Force Brigadier General Serhijus Holubotsov announced back in Junethat the service is developing a new hover and guidance kit to convert Soviet-era unguided bombs into precision munitions. The test flight with the Su-24 was an important step in the development of the new weapon.
The Ukrainian Air Force is apparently satisfied with the range and accuracy of the Hammer, Forbes reports, but it is clear that they are not satisfied with the delivery of the bomb. France has committed to supplying only 50 Hammers a month, too few to match the roughly 3,000 KAB bombs that the Russians drop along their 1,100-kilometer front line each month, even after taking into account the JDAM-ERs that Ukraine receives from the United States States.
If Ukraine succeeds in establishing domestic production of the new bomb, it may begin to match Russia’s hovering bomb campaign. The new bomb would add to Ukraine’s growing arsenal of munitions, which includes the Neptune cruise missile, the new Palianytsia “missile drone” and a number of disposable attack drones, including at least two models of an unmanned sport plane that can fly a thousand kilometers with an explosive device.
By developing its own precision munitions, Ukraine avoids complete dependence on fickle allies. Local production is also a way for Ukraine to circumvent allied restrictions on how and where Ukrainian forces can use foreign-made munitions. The Americans forbid the Ukrainians from firing US-supplied precision ballistic missiles at targets located on Russian territory – that is, at the air bases from which planes drop bombs into Ukraine.
That’s the idea. But it will remain just an idea until the Air Force fully tests the new bomb and factories start producing the weapon. The Ukrainian Air Force has armed several types of warplanes, including the Su-24, Su-27 and MiG-29, with American and French flying bombs. All three types could eventually carry the new Ukrainian bomb.
2024-09-10 21:49:37